Drugs Similar to Adderall

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KAUSHIK DESAI Last Updated: Aug 14, 2017

Kaushik Desai

Kaushik Desai is a research scientist and professor of pharmacology at a university in Canada. He has been doing research on diabetes and hypertension for more than 10 years. He has published several research articles in peer-reviewed, top-rated scientific journals such as "Nature" and "Diabetes".

A pharmacist is looking at a pill bottle.Photo Credit XiXinXing/XiXinXing/Getty Images

Adderall is the brand name of a prescription drug used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and a sleep disorder called narcolepsy. Adderall is a stimulant drug. There are several drugs similar to Adderall, which are also stimulants but there are important differences. These include methylphenidate, amphetamine, dextroamphetamine and methamphetamine. Adderall and similar drugs should only be used as directed and recommended by your doctor.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

ADHD affects children and adults. Five out of every 100 children are estimated to have ADHD. Clinical evidence strongly supports the use of stimulant drugs for ADHD, along with behavioral therapy. Stimulant drugs provide benefit during the day, but interfere with sleep at night. One main difference among different brands of stimulant drugs is their duration of action. A single dose of shorter-acting brands is effective for 3 to 5 hours; intermediate-acting for 4 to 8 hours; and longer-acting brands work for 8 to 12 hours. Taking an afternoon dose of a short-acting drug while at school can be problematic for some children. So, longer-acting stimulant drugs may be preferred over shorter-acting ones.

Methylphenidate

Methylphenidate is the most widely used stimulant drug for ADHD. Methylphenidate, dextroamphetamine and amphetamine are all effective and can be substituted for each other if one of them does not work well for a particular patient. Methylphenidate is available in shorter-acting forms, such as Ritalin, Methylin and Focalin. Intermediate-acting forms include Ritalin SR, Methylin ER and Metadate ER. Longer-acting brands include Concerta, Metadate CD, Ritalin LA and Focalin XR.

Methylphenidate is also available as a skin patch sold under the brand name Daytrana. This is a longer-acting form of the drug. The advantage of the patch is that it can be taken off early if there are sleep problems.

Amphetamine and Dextroamphetamine

Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine, Dexedrine Spansules) is another effective stimulant drug used for ADHD. The Dexedrine brand is shorter-acting and Dexedrine Spansules are longer-acting. Adderall, which is a mixture of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, is as effective as other stimulant drugs. Adderall is shorter-acting while the extended release Adderall XR is longer-acting.

Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) is an inactive form of dextroamphetamine. After taking the tablet, it is converted into the active drug dextroamphetamine within the body. The advantage of lisdexamfetamine is that side effects may be less due to gradual conversion into the active drug. Methamphetamine hydrochloride (Desoxyn, Desoxyn Gradumet) is another stimulant drug, which can be prescribed to treat ADHD if other stimulant medications are not effective.

Nonstimulant Drugs for ADHD

Atomoxetine (Strattera) is a nonstimulant drug, which may be prescribed to children with ADHD who do not respond well to stimulant drugs or have intolerable side effects. Atomoxetine does not interfere with sleep like stimulant drugs.

Side Effects and Precautions

Adderall and similar stimulant drugs are controlled substances and only available with a prescription. These drugs can be addictive and should be used only as directed by your doctor. Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) may have a lower risk of causing addiction than other stimulant medications.

Common side effects of stimulant drugs include loss of appetite, weight loss, sleep disturbances, headaches, irritability and nausea. Tell your doctor if you have high blood pressure or heart problems before taking any stimulant medication.